Page 161 - First Steps 2023

2. Promises, promises, promises.
“Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise”
(Galatians 4:28).

The very foundation of your life as a follower of Jesus is built on
promises.
Think about it: You haven’t been told precisely when Jesus will return
to earth, but you take it on faith he’ll come. You haven’t actually seen
heaven, but you live with an assurance one day you’ll live there.
Faith in God’s promises is part of a Jesus-follower’s life.
If you have a few weeks to spare, sit down and count the number of
promises packed into the Bible. Decide which have to do with you, which

have to do with others, how many have been kept thus far, and how many
haven’t yet been kept.
It’ll take a while.
Some scholars tally up around 3,000, and others estimate as
many as 6,000. Either way, there’s a stack of them—but they can all be
summed up by three promises described in the fourth chapter of Philippi-
ans, specifically in verses 7, 13, and 19:

“…you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can
understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live
in Christ Jesus…For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me
strength…And this same God who takes care of me will supply all
your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in
Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, 13, 19, NLT).

In the midst of encouraging and thanking believers in the city of

Philippi, Paul deftly sums up three overarching promises God gives his
children: Promises of peace, power, and provision.

• Peace
“…you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can
understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live
in Christ Jesus…”

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